Did you know that most adults either choose a career change, or they long to do it at some point? No one gets to 18 absolutely sure on what they want to do with their future, not when they haven’t been exposed to all of the wonders and joys that life has to offer. If you are on the verge of feeling like you need a change, and life is feeling unsettled to you, then it might be time to do something new.
Most people who go on to change their careers with the help of the Strong Interest Inventory do it for the better and they feel far more positive about their lives. Trust me. I’ve done it and I’ve had my son do it, as well. You need that burst of positivity if you want to get somewhere in life and there is nothing worse than regret. If you get to retirement age feeling fulfilled, you’re winning – and you shouldn’t forget that.
So, what are the classic signs that you are in need of a career change? Let’s take a look!
Lacking Joy
Going to work at your current job doesn’t give you any joy. You’re waking up in the morning feeling pits of dread in the bottom of your stomach. You’re hating the idea that you have to get up and go to your job and you feel tense just thinking about it. You may only be at work eight (ish) hours per day, but those are a lot of hours to hate your time!
Longing For Other Jobs
You’re longing for other jobs. If you’re working in IT but you long to work in healthcare, or you’re currently stuck doing long shifts and you long to freelance, that’s a sure sign that you should be changing careers. No one should wake up and wish; not when you could make a change and go and get the job that you want.
Confidence
It’s affecting your confidence. Your job should never hit your self-esteem in a negative way. You should be able to go in and know that you’re excellent at what you do every single day. You need to enjoy the work that you do, and if that means a career change, so be it!
Money and Benefits
You’re all about the money. It is never worth staying in a job just for the financial benefits. If you go to work for good money but you aren’t getting anything out of it other than the bills being paid, it’s not the job for you. Financially you need to feel secure, absolutely, but you also need to work on ensuring that you feel excited by your career. It’s potentially the one you’ll stick with for a while!
Lack of Progression
There is no more progression. It’s very tough to stay in a business or a job that doesn’t give you anything further than where you already are. Generally, we as people thrive on being able to succeed and move forward, and that’s only going to be the case for you if you know you have something to aim for and somewhere to be.
Final Thoughts
As a Career Counselor by day, I can tell you that if you are consistently running into these signs, it may be time to take a leap of faith and pursue a new career path.
